Need help!!!

[Lil415]

I'm 16 years old and for the past 4 years or so I have been suffering from small amounts of anxiety. In the past 2 years my anxiety got noticeably worse and I was taking weeks off school at a time, bringing myself further and further behind in my studies. I have now dropped out of school for the year and I'll be repeating next year. My anxiety is currently worse than ever and I need to know how to deal with this, I'll soon be flying over to stay with my grandparents for a couple of months and I don't want to feel like this there. Everyday I will have a dry throat and feel as though I'm about to vomit. My whole life I've been terrified of vomiting which in turn causes me to panic. I'll get hot flushes and dizzy spells and it's making my life almost unbearable. It happens whether I'm at home or if I leave the house and I haven't been able to sleep for a whole night in over a year. Please help me, I'm tired of feeling this way

[walkthisway]

As you have been struggling with this for so long I hope you have been to your GP and have found someone you can talk to about how you feel. If not you need to do both of those things.

Also look online for more immediate help - just type in 'anxiety' and a lot of useful organisations will come up.

Practicing simple techniques such as controlling your breathing can help you manage the feelings of anxiety and panic. Also understand that the feelings and your fears are not real and can be controlled.

I have been in your situation and was gradually shutting my life down because I struggled with everything because of anxiety and depression. But believe me there is a way back to feeling more normal and knowing that will help.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

Sue

[Lil415 in reply to walkthisway]

Thank you for your comment. I have been seeing a counsellor for the past year or so which hasn't seemed to be helping very much and it's so frustrating because my GP doesn't want to give me medication due to my age, it's just making it all harder. Hopefully soon I will be able to control my mind but right now it just seems so hard! I've actually found breathing techniques to be quite helpful and I regularly practice them now :))

[walkthisway in reply to Lil415]

I am really glad you are getting help your GP is probably right in not giving you pills. Developing your own coping strategies to deal with anxiety is a much better longer term strategy. I have suffered for many years now and could write a book on the different ways I manage! I was a bit like you when it first started although not so young - and it got worse and worse. A counsellor really helped me - perhaps you should see a different one if it is not helping. Breathing properly and to calm yourself is one of the best things to practice.

Good luck - keep sharing your thoughts - that helps as well.

Sue

[Hidden]

PD often makes you anxious about having PD. I began exercise program designed for PD people and it helps so much. Cycling or exerciIng in a class or on your own apparently helps produce your own dopamine. Check out Dr. Becky Farley (just google her) as she designed the proper exercises done quickly and with repetition. Good luck

[Lil415 in reply to Hidden]

What's PD??